Compliance Manager

Role Purpose

The Compliance Manager is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the compliance, governance and regulatory framework for the organization’s operations in the construction, real estate and/or industrial sectors in Saudi Arabia. The role ensures that all company activities (projects, contracts, site operations, procurement, etc.) adhere to applicable laws, regulations, internal policies and industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, deploy and maintain the compliance policy, procedures and controls aligned with Saudi regulations, sector-specific standards, company values and internal governance.
• Conduct regular compliance risk assessments across project portfolios, construction sites, real estate developments or industrial operations; identify gaps and propose mitigation plans.
• Monitor changing regulatory, legal and industry requirements (e.g., building codes, safety standards, environmental regulations, real estate laws) and ensure internal frameworks remain updated.
• Perform compliance audits and inspections (on-site and off-site) of operations, review documentation (contracts, work methods, permits, health & safety, environment) to verify adherence.
• Collaborate with project teams, procurement, legal, safety, quality assurance, operations and external stakeholders / regulators to ensure compliance requirements are integrated in project execution.
• Investigate non-compliance incidents, complaints or regulatory queries; report findings, recommend corrective action and follow up to ensure remediation.
• Design and deliver training, awareness programmers and communication for staff (site engineers, subcontractors, suppliers) on compliance, governance, ethics, regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records of compliance activities (audit reports, risk registers, corrective actions, training logs, regulatory submissions).
• Prepare regular reports for senior management and/or board-level committees on compliance status, key risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Promote a culture of ethical behavior, integrity and accountability within the organization.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (ideally in Engineering, Construction Management, Law, Business Administration or equivalent)
• Master’s degree or professional certification in compliance/risk/governance is a plus.
• Professional certification (e.g., CCEP, CRMA, ISO 37301 Compliance Management certification) is an advantage.
• Minimum ~ 7-10 years of experience in compliance, governance, risk, audit or similar roles in construction, real estate development, industrial or infrastructure sectors in Saudi Arabia.
• Proven track record of working with large-scale projects (construction/real estate/industrial) and understanding of local regulatory frameworks, building codes, safety, environment, and project governance.
• Strong knowledge of Saudi Arabian regulatory environment for construction/real-estate/industrial sectors (building codes, health & safety, environmental regulations, real-estate law)
• Strong analytical, audit and risk-assessment skills — ability to identify compliance gaps, root causes and propose corrective measures.
• Excellent communication (Arabic & English) — ability to influence stakeholders at different levels including site teams, contractors, senior management.
• Ability to implement and monitor compliance frameworks, controls, audits and training programmers.
• Experience using compliance / risk / GRC tools and software is desirable.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to manage multiple priorities, travel to site locations.